Youths wave black flags at Shatrughan Sinha, beaten up
Patna: Black flags were shown at BJP candidate from the Patna Saheb, Shatrughan Sinha by a group of youths who were beaten up by the actor-politician's supporters on Friday.
A few youths claiming themselves to members of NGO "Lokhit Vikas Manch" waved black flags at Sinha at Kargil Chowk as he was going to file his nomination for the Lok Sabha elections.
City Superintendent of Police Jaykant told PTI that it was "a skirmish".
Though Sinha did not comment on the incident, which occurred for the second consecutive day, BJP MLAs, Nitin Navin and Prem Ranjan Patel, who accompanied him described it as the "handiwork" of political rivals.
"Most of the protestors were young and when asked the reason for showing black flags did not comment," Navin told PTI.
Photo - BJP workers beating up youngsters who showed black flags to BJP's Patna Sahib candidate Shatrughan Sinha during his nomination filing procession in Patna (PTI)
Patel alleged that the protesters appeared to be drunk. On Thursday a group had protested Sinha's re-nomination from Patna Saheb seat during his visit to the BJP office and were thrashed by BJP supporters.
A complaint was registered with the Kotwali police station for yesterday's assault, Kotwali SHO, Alok Kumar said.
The complainants had named Sinha and his supporters for the assault, Kumar said.
Sinha popularly known as 'Bihari Babu', incidentally, had been opposed by a section of leaders in BJP.
There were reports that senior BJP leader Ravishankar Prasad wished to contest from Patna Saheb.
Due to resistance, the candidature of Sinha, who had served as cabinet minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, was earlier put on hold and his ticket was approved only in the second lot for Bihar.
Sinha would face Bhojpuri actor Kunal Singh of Congress, former Bihar minister and AAP leader Parveen Amanullah and JD(U)'s Gopal Prasad Sinha on April 17.
Playing down the protest, Sinha told reporters that some "misguided" young people did mischief for publicity.
Dismissing anti-incumbency against him, Sinha said enthuasism of party workers and people showed that this time he would win even by a bigger margin.
"Everybody's aim in BJP is to make Narendra Modi Prime Minister of the country. We all are working for the same objective and will achieve it," he said showing the V sign.